Experts in Japan and other countries have voiced their strong support for the Belt and Road Initiative and say they look forward to more international collaboration under its auspices to achieve high-quality development.

China's proposal for the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, coupled with BRI programs, is of great significance for global connection and common prosperity, former Japanese prime minister Yasuo Fukuda said.

"It is this concept that has allowed the Belt and Road Initiative to develop on such a grand scale," Fukuda told an international symposium on the 10th anniversary of the BRI held in Tokyo on Friday.

"The building of a community with a shared future for mankind enhances the core principles of the BRI.

"This concept is composed of openness, inclusiveness, fairness, justice, mutual learning, coexistence, solidarity and cooperation. These principles, when put into concrete practice, stand at the global level and give life to the Belt and Road Initiative. Therefore, the initiative holds significant importance."

China has signed more than 200 BRI co-building agreements with more than 150 countries and over 30 international organizations, alongside third-party market collaboration agreements with 14 countries, said China's Ambassador to Japan, Wu Jianghao.

Wirun Phichaiwongphakdee, director of the Thailand-China Research Center of the Belt and Road Initiative, told the symposium that the voices of developing countries have long been largely overlooked in Western-dominated globalization, and their contributions to developing global governance have been significantly underestimated.

"The BRI aligns with the aspirations of people around the world for a better life and seeks to build a more equitable and just global governance system for the development of human society. Belt and Road cooperation facilitates the free flow of funds and technology needed for development, enabling developing countries to escape poverty and become active participants in the global governance system."

Cambodia's Ambassador to Japan, Tuy Ry, said the BRI has played an essential role in promoting development in his country by boosting sustainable economic and social development through collaboration in various spheres, including infrastructure, economics, investment, the financial sector and people-to-people connectivity.

Toshihiro Nikai, chairman of the Japan-China Friendship Parliamentarians' Union, said in a video message that people-to-people connectivity needs to be further promoted in terms of hardware, such as infrastructure and connectivity, and software, such as rules.

China maintains openness and transparency in infrastructure and debt sustainability, fully embracing these international principles, said Nikai, a former secretary-general of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan.

An open approach

China adopts a very open approach toward target countries and regions, making contributions to global peace and stability, he said.

The Ambassador of Laos to Japan, Phongsamouth Anlavan, said the BRI has enabled participating countries, including hers, to experience economic development and modernization and has helped them to respond to development challenges.

Yasuhiro Sato, vice-chairman of the Japan Business Federation, said various countries, especially developing ones, need to tackle social issues by building resilient infrastructure in areas such as logistics, transportation, energy and information technology.

Many problems are difficult to overcome by countries acting alone, which makes international collaboration increasingly important, he added.

"To promote investment in high-quality overseas infrastructure, the Belt and Road Initiative should not be limited to participating countries but should also meet the infrastructure needs of surrounding regions, addressing their social issues and achieving sustainable development and economic stability."

There are instances of Japanese and Chinese companies working together in third countries, he said, and it is important for both to continue drawing on their strengths and to conduct infrastructure projects in accordance with international rules to deal with issues and achieve sustainable development and economic growth.

Wu said China and Japan have great prospects for working together in areas such as third-party markets and advancing regional integration and development.

The two countries have signed a memorandum of understanding on third-party market collaboration, held the first cooperation forum and reached more than 50 partnership agreements.

Japanese companies are exploring opportunities in using the China-Europe Railway Express and intermodal transport via river and sea, he said, and companies in both countries as well as financial institutions have worked together in third-party markets, accumulating valuable experience.

"We hope that all sectors in Japan will develop a more objective and rational understanding of the Belt and Road Initiative, free from geopolitical biases.

"We welcome more Japanese companies to engage in deeper cooperation with a more proactive and pragmatic attitude toward the initiative."

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